Tag: travel

Notes on Structured Content

Post ImageTime for another session – Dickson and Megan have gone to a different one this time. Oh, and I notice Scoble’s tablet is actually a newer model than mine (I think…larger screen too). Here are some notes on Bryan Rieger’s session on structured content (this is essentially a Semantic Web concept):

  • Very interesting use of lego to represent how structured blogging produces blocks. Say a block for the title, one for the text, one for tags (which are already a microformat), etc.
  • Microformats: designed for humans first, machines second. Keep it as simple as possible. Solve a specific problem.
  • Developers: support both commas and spaces!
  • Typically a structured blog post looks the same as any other post, which is good for users.
  • Why bother? Some reasons: search, commerce, and many other things we haven’t begun to think of yet…
  • Current structured content types: licenses, tags, reviews, lists, calendars, events, media, people, organizations, etc.
  • Some places to check out are http://microformats.org and http://structuredblogging.com.
  • The tools have to support these formats, and for the user, entering these things has to be quick and easy!
  • We’re creating this content for humans, so why the effort in creating something for machines? Well, one person says it makes presentation much simpler, across various machines and interfaces.
  • Boris Mann suggests this is all about accessibility, and again, the tools have to support it.
  • Bryan says a larger problem than tools support, is why would people do this? We need to get people to want to do this!
  • Are we extending blogging or RSS? Bryan says neither.
  • Someone mentioned that there’s a project to create a structured version of Atom, so you wouldn’t need an RSS feed, as it would essentially be built in. I assume you just throw a stylsheet in front of the Atom document for browser rendering.
  • Interesting discussion about how HTML has already gotten us so far, perhaps the solution to structured content is simple…
  • Scoble thinks the “way in” for structured content is with maps, allowing a blogger to put a review on a map at a specific address.

Finally at Moose Camp – notes on Journalism

Post ImageSo we slept in a little this morning, and we took our time. Compared to past trips, this one has been relatively relaxing thus far! We finally made it to UBC’s downtown campus (entirely underground in case you didn’t know) and got our lanyards. Kind of neat idea – in addition to your name and web address on the nametag, there are four lines for “tags”.

We’re in Mark Hamilton’s session called We’re all journalists now. Right next to us? Robert Scoble with the same tablet pc as I am typing this on. Here are some notes on the session:

  • Some people in the room seem to think that there is great power in having tools that make publishing very easy and always on, while others thing that creates a larger problem of filtering and managing new information.
  • Scoble makes the point that he can write about a product and a week later 3000 people have signed up for that new product, and that this method of distribution did not exist ten years ago. Others disagree, saying the scheme has always been here, we’re just confused with “blogging” being new.
  • Someone mentions the long tail – noting there are three or four bloggers for every topic, and this has a huge impact on commerce.
  • Mark says the democratization of media is very confusing…there are so many different perspectives. He also notes that he has 3.7 days of podcasts on his iPod, and that the creators of those podcasts are not going to stop and wait for him to catch up, they are going to continue producing content.
  • Mark touches on the fear of not being connected – you feel like you’ve missed something if you don’t keep up, or if you forget your camera, etc. Some conclusions he’s had: in terms of mass media, we have never been as well served as we are now, but it still has a whole bunch of flaws; there are so many different and new types of journalism like video blogs and sites like NowPublic; journalists are starting to realize that collectively, the audience is smarter!
  • Journalism right now is messy, just like tagging. Things are changing. Maybe it’s going to be messy forever?
  • Chris Pirillo is wondering whether “amateurs” should be called journalists? What about journalists who go through formal training and that sort of thing? Mark notes that strictly speaking, there is no credential for a journalist, anyone can walk into a newspaper and become a journalist. Chris says, “if I can apply a bandaid, does that make me a doctor?” People are fighting him on this one, but I tend to agree…just because you’re a blogger doesn’t mean you’re a journalist.

Thank goodness for wireless 🙂

Off to Northern Voice!

Post ImageWe leave tonite for Vancouver where we’ll spend tomorrow at Moose Camp and Saturday at Northern Voice. Megan’s flight is a little earlier than mine and Dickson’s but that’s okay. I know I have mentioned this already, but I’m really looking forward to the conference – last year was great, so I have high expectations for this one too. I probably won’t be bringing all the audio equipment like I did last year, but that’s okay, because Podcast Spot isn’t ready yet anyway!

The next few days will be very much related to the conference in terms of posting, so be prepared! Happy Birthday to Andrea and everyone else that I will miss this weekend, hope the party is lots of fun and rated G! In case you’re wondering, we get back into Edmonton late on Sunday evening.

Read: Northern Voice

Twelve Hours to Inuvik

Tom and I left Edmonton at 10 AM yesterday morning, as scheduled. We got to the airport relatively early, watched the sports news while we waited, and everything was going good. When we gave the people at the gate our boarding passes, we were told that our flight was “green stickered” for Inuvik, which meant that we were landing subject to weather. The last time my Mom flew, she had the same thing happen. In fifteen years of flying to and from Inuvik, I don’t ever recall a plane not being able to land.

We arrived in Yellowknife on time, the only stop between Edmonton and Inuvik, and we had to get off the plane. Tom seemed to think that was weird, saying usually we’re allowed to stay on the plane while they add some cargo and take some off, and get any new passengers. So we got off the plane, and it wasn’t very long before we were informed that our flight had been canceled due to poor weather in Inuvik. They told us the runway was in poor condition, and it was extremely foggy. Then we found out we’d be able to fly out of Yellowknife at 9:45 PM, almost 8 hours after we should have landed in Inuvik.

So Tom and I spent from noon yesterday until around 10:15 PM when the flight finally left in the Yellowknife airport, some pictures of which are here. You might think that’s not so bad, but with no Internet, only a few power outlets, no coffee shops or restaurants except for one that is mostly a bar, and absolutely no TV’s, people, or anything really, it was kind of dumb. Tom played FIFA 06 on his laptop while I tracked down open network ports and tried to get online. Throughout our time in the airport, we started to find out more and more about our canceled flight, from other people who came and went, and from my parents on the phone.

We were on First Air, and the other airline that flys to Inuvik is Canadian North. We found out that Canadian North landed in Inuvik at 2:30 PM, and hour later than scheduled, but only 15 minutes after our flight was supposed to land. So clearly, weather in Inuvik was not an issue. After we got to Inuvik at midnight, it became clear that First Air knew all along we wouldn’t be landing in the afternoon, and the weather excuse was exactly that, an excuse. Needless to say, I was not amused.

Anyway, I am in Inuvik now, finally. I don’t remember it being so dry here, but I keep shocking myself everywhere! There is so much snow it’s insane. Not as cold as it could be, but still cold. I haven’t really been anywhere in town yet, but already I have seen so much different. Lots of new hotels for the pipeline project. In fact, there are about 350 hotels room in a town of only 3000 people – insanity. More later!

California Trip Recap

Our trip this past weekend to California was definitely what I would call a “business trip” as we didn’t have much time to do anything vacation-like. After the expo was finished on Saturday, Dickson and I drove into Hollywood and Beverly Hills for some sightseeing. The drive also meant more time on the busy and very fast freeways! Actually, I think the reason they seem so fast is the cement walls on either side, the large number of lanes, and the incredible number of vehicles.

The houses in Beverly Hills were quite amazing! We also drove down Rodeo Drive, and saw some of the fancy stores like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. Lots of fancy cars too. Sunset Blvd was very busy, making it almost impossible to change lanes without cutting someone off! For a late dinner we went to IHOP and had, what else, breakfast! The pancakes were very good, I must admit, though very filling. We didn’t have too much time though, as we had to return the rental car, which meant some fast driving on I-10 to get back to Ontario.

As for the conference/expo, it was great! We definitely had one of the most simplistic booths, but that’s okay. We were there to talk with people, both to learn and share, so a flashy booth wasn’t required. We met a lot of great people, and learned about lots of new projects. Exciting! We definitely want to something more for next year, but we’ve got almost a year to plan it.

Traveling home was long! Fortunately we met Dave Slusher and rode with him to Denver. We chatted about quite a few things, it was great! We also departed Denver at the same time, although in different locations, so we hung out til boarding. Thanks Dave!

In Calgary we stopped at Earls for lunch and then at Krispy Kreme to pickup some donuts. No trip to Calgary is complete without getting one of the hot, fresh original glazed donuts while waiting in line to buy four dozen! Finally we were on our way home. I realize now that I actually did a lot of driving over the weekend, and it just tired me out. Fortunately I slept longer than a few hours last night 🙂

For my pictures of our trip and the Expo, click here. Dickson will have more posted soon too, so check out his blog.

Still in Calgary

Post ImageWell as some of you are aware, and as Dickson posted, we’re still in Calgary. I knew that leaving from Calgary instead of Edmonton would be a problem, and it turns out that we missed our flight, for a variety of reasons. After evaluating all of our options (because the later flight was booked solid, so we couldn’t get bumped), and after some great help from our travel agent (thanks Wendy!) we found a flight leaving Calgary early tomorrow morning to LA. Once there we’re going to rent a car and drive to Ontario, which means we should hopefully arrive just after the Expo floor opens at 10 AM.

We’re quite excited about the Expo, despite the travel problems we encountered today! I am really looking forward to meeting podcasters, listeners and others. And I’m also looking forward to sharing our products and services.

So we’re slightly delayed, but that won’t stop us!

Off to California

Post ImageIt used to be that an all-nighter was a rare event, something that only happened once in a while and only when absolutely necessary. Lately though it seems like every night is an all-nighter! Dickson and I have been working like crazy lately, but I think it will all be worth it. I guess we’ll find out this weekend in any case!

We’re off to Calgary now, which is where our flight for Ontario, California departs. We’ll be at the Podcast & Portable Media Expo this weekend, so stay tuned to my blog and the Paramagnus blog for news and updates. Thanks to everyone who has wished us luck!

Have a great weekend!

Seattle Trip Day 5

Post ImageToday was just one of those days. We slept in a little. We didn’t do a whole heck of a lot. And we got some much needed rest and relaxation time. After we did finally get up and check messages, we went to the Pike Place Bagels shop for lunch. Next we decided to just wander around downtown. We went all through the famer’s market, to the original Starbucks, and to a few different local stores.

We ended up walking for quite a while, which killed a good part of the afternoon. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at Barnes and Noble to pick up a coule magazines. Once back at the hotel, we did a little reading, and eventually watched Secret Window on HBO. You can totally tell that the movie was written by Stephen King – it was pretty intense! Probably would have been a good one to see on the big screen now that I think of it.

We stopped at Subway for dinner tonight because it was close, and it had gotten quite cold and actually rained a little. Since coming back to the hotel, I’ve just been sitting here reading and listening to music, basically. I don’t remember the last time I sat and watched TV or the last time I just sat and read stuff for a few hours, so it has been nice and comfortable.

Tomorrow we’re heading on a three-hour city tour, so that should be fun. Then in the evening, it’s off to the airport to head home. Check out some photos I took of our Seattle adventures, and from Gnomedex.

Read: My Photos